Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 Verse 30 (4.30)

अपरे नियताहाराः प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति । सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषाः | | ४-३० | |

apare niyatāhārāḥ prāṇānprāṇeṣhu juhvati sarve’pyete yajñavido yajñakṣhapitakalmaṣhāḥ

Word-by-word guide:

Line 1:

अपरे (apare) — अन्य नियमित आहार वाले(others with regulated food)
ni joined in niyatāhārāḥ
यत् (yat) — जो कि(that which)
अहम् (aham) — मैं(I)
rah joined in niyatāhārāḥ
रन (pranan) — प्राणों को प्राणों में अर्पित करते हैं(offer life-energies into life-energies)
रएउ (praneshu) — प्राणों को प्राणों में अर्पित करते हैं(offer life-energies into life-energies)
उवइ (juhvati) — प्राणों को प्राणों में अर्पित करते हैं(offer life-energies into life-energies)

Line 2:

सर्वे (sarve) — ये सभी यज्ञ को जानते हैं(all these know sacrifice)
अपि (api) — ये सभी यज्ञ को जानते हैं(all these know sacrifice)
एते (ete) — ये सभी यज्ञ को जानते हैं(all these know sacrifice)
यज्ञ-इद (yajna-vidah) — ये सभी यज्ञ को जानते हैं(all these know sacrifice)
यज्ञ-क्षइत-कमश (yajna-kshapita-kalmashah) — यज्ञ(their impurities are reduced by sacrifice)

English: Others, controlling their diet, worship their worldly life to the spiritual fire. All understand the principal of worship, and by its means their wrongdoings are washed away.

💡 Commentary Note

Krishna includes regulated diet and disciplined living among forms of sacrifice. The point is that spiritual practice can shape ordinary habits, not only formal rituals.

This verse reminds us that food, breath, action, and self-control can all become aspect of the path when used with awareness and moderation.

Learnings from Shloka 30:

Material offering is one Yagya:: Donation, charity, and building useful institutions can become sacred when done selflessly.
Tapasya is another Yagya:: Fasting, discipline, simplicity, and willingly bearing discomfort for a righteous purpose can purify the mind.
Yoga practice is Yagya:: Spiritual practice itself can be an offering when done steadily and humbly.
Study and knowledge are Yagya:: Devoted study of scripture and reflection on the Self are also forms of sacrifice.
Pranayama is Yagya:: Breath-control offers prana and apana into each other, reminding us that even life-energy can be disciplined and sanctified.

Gita/Sanskrit Language Quiz

Practice this shloka vocabulary

Match Sanskrit words from shloka 4.30 with their Hindi and English meanings.

Practice vocabulary

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